Sichuan became one of just two provinces in China to record an increase in foreign trade during the first two months of the year, with its value growing 2.5 per cent year-on-year to US$2.67bn. The province reported total exports of US$1.76bn, up 26 per cent year-on-year, against the backdrop of a 21 per cent fall nationwide. Value of imports in Sichuan stood at US$910m, a decrease of 25 per cent, compared with a nationwide fall of 34 per cent. The other province to report an increase in foreign trade was Hainan, in southern China.